Erectable shelter with gable roof

ABSTRACT

The collapsible shelter has a canopy that can be raised above the upper level of the leg assembly in an extended configuration. A perimeter truss linkage assembly connected to the leg assembly, and two or more central truss pairs of link members are provided, with each of the central truss pairs connected to the inner ends of one of the perimeter truss pairs on a side. At least one vertically oriented central support members for supporting the canopy above the upper level of the leg assembly is provided, and preferably three central support members are provided, including at least one vertically oriented inner central support member, and at least two peripheral central support members. The central support members comprise upper and lower telescoping sections, with the upper telescoping section having an upper end for supporting the canopy. The central support members have an internal stop member in their the lower telescoping section for supporting the upper telescoping section of the central support member, such that when the shelter is in the extended configuration, the lower telescoping section supports the upper telescoping section and raises the upper end of the upper telescoping section above the upper ends of the leg assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to folding, collapsiblestructures, and more particularly relates to a collapsible, fieldshelter structure having an elevated canopy.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Temporary shelters that can be easily transported and rapidly setup at emergency sites can be particularly useful in providing temporarycare and housing. Such shelters can also be useful for non-emergencyoutdoor gatherings, such as for temporary military posts, field trips,and the like. One such quickly erectable, collapsible shelter having aframework of X-shaped linkages, telescoping legs, and a canopy coveringthe framework has legs that are capable of telescoping to about twicetheir stowed length, and the framework of X-shaped truss pairs iscapable of horizontal extension between the legs to support a canopy.The framework can be constructed of lightweight material, and thetelescoping legs can be extended to raise the framework of the shelter.However, the height of the canopy is limited to the extended length ofthe legs, and the canopy is essentially flat, allowing for collection ofprecipitation and debris on top of the canopy, which can promote leaksand tears in the canopy.

[0005] It would be desirable to provide an improved collapsible shelterwith a support framework for the canopy that rises above the supportinglegs, to provide for more headroom within the structure, and to allowfor a reduction in the size and weight of the legs and frameworkrequired to achieve an adequate height of the canopy. It would also bedesirable to provide a canopy structure that is gabled to shedprecipitation and debris from the top of the shelter. It would befurther desirable to provide a shelter framework that would providegreater strength and stability, to allow support of larger, lightercollapsible shelter structures. The present invention meets these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides fora collapsible shelter with an improved truss framework that raises agabled shelter canopy to provide increased headroom, strength andstability.

[0007] The invention accordingly provides for a collapsible shelterhaving a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration, with acanopy that can be raised above the upper level of the leg assembly inan extended configuration. The canopy can have four or more sides andcorners, and the leg assembly also has four or more legs supporting saidcanopy. A perimeter truss linkage assembly comprising a plurality ofperimeter truss pairs of link members is connected to the leg assembly.In a presently preferred embodiment, each of the perimeter truss pairsincludes first and second link members pivotally connected together in ascissors configuration, with the outer end of each first link memberconnected to the upper end of a leg, and the outer end of each secondlink slidably connected to the leg. Two or more central truss pairs oflink members are provided, with each of the central truss pairsconnected to the inner ends of one of the perimeter truss pairs on aside. Each of the central truss pairs preferably includes first andsecond link members pivotally connected together in a scissorsconfiguration. At least three vertically oriented central supportmembers for supporting the canopy above the upper level of the legassembly are also provided, including at least one vertically orientedinner central support member, and at least two peripheral centralsupport members. The inner ends of each of the first and second links ofthe central truss pairs are pivotally connected to the inner centralsupport member, and the inner ends of each of the first and second linksof the one of the perimeter truss pairs on one of the sides of theshelter are similarly pivotally connected to each peripheral centralsupport member. In a presently preferred embodiment, the inner centralsupport member comprises upper and lower telescoping sections, with theupper telescoping section having an upper end for supporting the canopy.The inner ends of each of the first links of the inner central trusspairs are pivotally connected to the upper telescoping section of thecentral support member, and the inner ends of each of the second linksof the central truss pairs are pivotally connected to the lowertelescoping section of the central support member. Similarly, each ofthe peripheral central support members has upper and lower telescopingsections, with the upper telescoping section having an upper end forsupporting the canopy, and the inner ends of each of the first links ofthe perimeter truss pairs being pivotally connected to the uppertelescoping section of the peripheral central support member, and theinner ends of each of the second links of the central truss pairs beingpivotally connected to the lower telescoping section of the peripheralsupport member. Advantageously, in a preferred aspect of the invention,in each of the inner and peripheral central support members, the lowertelescoping section has an internal stop member for supporting the uppertelescoping section of the central support member, such that when theshelter is in the extended configuration, the lower telescoping sectionsupports the upper telescoping section and raises the upper end of theupper telescoping section above the upper ends of the leg assembly.

[0008] These and other aspects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example the featuresof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the erectable, collapsible shelterof the invention in an extended configuration;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a front side of the erectable,collapsible shelter of FIG. 1, in a collapsed configuration;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a left side elevational of theerectable, collapsible shelter of FIG. 1, in a collapsed configuration;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional top view of the erectable, collapsibleshelter of FIG. 1, in a collapsed configuration, taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a sectional bottom view of a portion of the innercentral support member connection of the erectable, collapsible shelterof FIG. 1, in a collapsed configuration, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;and

[0014]FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of a portion of the lower telescopingsection of a central support member of the erectable, collapsibleshelter of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The size and available headroom of previous collapsible sheltershave been generally limited by the extended length of the legs of thestructure, and provided essentially flat roof structures, allowing forcollection of precipitation in pockets or puddles on top of the shelter.The collapsible shelter of the invention provides for larger, lightercollapsible shelter structures, with a large raised gabled roofstructure which also improves the strength and stability of the shelter.

[0016] As is illustrated in the drawings, which are provided by way ofexample and not by way of limitation, the invention is embodied in animproved collapsible shelter 10 having an extended configurationillustrated in FIG. 1, for example, and a collapsed configuration shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. The improved collapsible shelter includes a canopy 12having at least four sides 14 and four corners 16. As will becomeapparent, although the collapsible shelter illustrated in the drawingsis generally square, it could also be rectangular, trapezoidal,six-sided, eight-sided, or the like.

[0017] The collapsible shelter includes a leg assembly 18 having atleast four legs 20 supporting the canopy, and in a presently preferredembodiment, the legs are telescoping, and having an upper section 22having an upper end 23, and a lower section 24 having a foot 26 forengagement with ground. In a preferred aspect of the invention a slidermember 28 is slidably mounted to each of the legs, and is preferablymounted to the upper section of the legs.

[0018] The collapsible shelter also includes a perimeter truss linkageassembly 30 having a plurality of perimeter truss pairs of link members32 connected to the leg assembly, with each of the perimeter truss pairsincluding first link members 34 and second 36 link members that arepivotally connected together in a scissors configuration. The first andsecond link members have an inner end 38 and an outer end 40, with theouter end of each of the first link members connected to the upper endof one of the legs, and the outer end of each second link member beingconnected to a slider member to slidably connect the second link memberto the leg. The inner ends of the first link members are pivotallyconnected together, and the inner ends of the second link members arepivotally connected together, preferably by bolts 39 and spacers 41, onopposing sides of the shelter framework. At least two central trusspairs of link members 42 are provided, with each of the central trusspairs of link members being connected to the inner ends of one of theperimeter truss pairs on a side by brackets 43 and bolts 45. Each of thecentral truss pairs preferably includes first link members 44 and second46 link members pivotally connected together in a scissorsconfiguration. The first link members of the central truss pairs have anouter end 48 connected to the inner end of the second link member of theperimeter truss pair, and the second link members of the central trusspairs have an outer end 50 connected to the inner end of the first linkmember of the perimeter truss pair.

[0019] In a preferred aspect of the invention, the collapsible shelterincludes at least one vertically oriented inner central support member52 supporting the canopy. The inner ends of each of the first and secondlinks of the central truss pairs are pivotally connected to the innercentral support member by brackets 53 and bolts 55, preferably coveredby protector members 57. In a presently preferred aspect of theinvention, the inner central support member comprises upper 54 and lower56 telescoping sections, with the upper telescoping section having anupper end 58 for supporting the canopy. The inner ends of each of thesecond link members of the central truss pairs are pivotally connectedto the upper telescoping section of the central support member, and theinner ends of each of the first link members of the central truss pairsare pivotally connected to the lower telescoping section of the centralsupport member. The upper telescoping section preferably slides withinthe lower telescoping section of the central support member, and thelower telescoping section advantageously has an internal stop member 60mounted within the lower section generally above the middle of the lowertelescoping section, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, for supporting the uppertelescoping section, such that when the shelter is in the extendedconfiguration, the lower telescoping section supports the uppertelescoping section and raises the upper end of the upper telescopingsection above the upper ends of the leg assembly.

[0020] Similarly, the collapsible shelter preferably includes at leasttwo vertically oriented peripheral central support members 62 forsupporting the canopy, with the inner ends of each of the first andsecond links of the one of the perimeter truss pairs on one of the sidesof the shelter being pivotally connected to the peripheral centralsupport member by brackets 63 and bolts 65. Each of the peripheralcentral support members is preferably formed from an upper telescopingsection 64 slidably disposed in a lower telescoping section 66, with theupper telescoping section having an upper end 68 for supporting thecanopy. The inner ends of each of the second link members of theperimeter truss pairs are likewise pivotally connected to the uppertelescoping section of the peripheral central support member, and theinner ends of each of the first link members of the perimeter trusspairs are pivotally connected to the lower telescoping section of theperipheral support member. The lower telescoping section has an internalstop member 70, identified in FIG. 2, located similarly as in the innercentral support member, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for supporting theupper telescoping section such that when the shelter is in the extendedconfiguration, the lower telescoping section supports the uppertelescoping section and raises the upper end of the upper telescopingsection above the upper ends of the leg assembly.

[0021] It has thus been demonstrated that the invention provides forlarger, lighter, and improved collapsible shelters with a large raisedgabled roof structure which also improves the strength and stability ofthe shelter.

[0022] It will be apparent from the foregoing that while particularforms of the invention have been illustrated and described, variousmodifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention belimited, except as by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible shelter having a collapsedconfiguration and an extended configuration, comprising: a canopy havingat least four sides and four corners; a leg assembly having at leastfour legs supporting said canopy, said legs having an upper end and alower end; a perimeter truss linkage assembly having a plurality ofperimeter truss pairs of link members connected to said leg assembly; atleast two central truss pairs of link members, each of said centraltruss pairs being connected to the inner ends of one of said perimetertruss pairs; at least one vertically oriented inner central supportmember supporting said canopy, the inner ends of each of said first andsecond links of said central truss pairs being pivotally connected tosaid inner central support member; and at least two peripheral centralsupport members supporting said canopy, the inner ends of each of saidfirst and second links of said one of said perimeter truss pairs on oneof said sides of the shelter being pivotally connected to saidperipheral central support member.
 2. The collapsible shelter of claim 1, wherein said leg assembly comprises telescoping upper and lowersections.
 3. The collapsible shelter of claim 1 , wherein said legassembly comprises a slider member slidably mounted to each of saidlegs.
 4. The collapsible shelter of claim 3 , wherein said slider memberis mounted to upper section.
 5. The collapsible shelter of claim 1 ,wherein each of said perimeter truss pairs comprises first and secondlink members pivotally connected together in a scissors configuration,said first and second link members having inner and outer ends, saidouter end of each said first link member being connected to the upperend of one said leg, and said outer end of each second link beingslidably connected to said leg.
 6. The collapsible shelter of claim 1 ,wherein each of said central truss pairs comprises first and second linkmembers pivotally connected together in a scissors configuration.
 7. Thecollapsible shelter of claim 6 , wherein said first link member of saidcentral truss pairs has an outer end connected to the inner end of saidsecond link member of said perimeter truss pair, and said second linkmember of said central truss pairs has an outer end connected to theinner end of said first link member of said perimeter truss pair.
 8. Thecollapsible shelter of claim 1 , wherein said inner central supportmember comprises upper and lower telescoping sections, said uppertelescoping section having an upper end for supporting said canopy, theinner ends of each of said second links of said central truss pairsbeing pivotally connected to the upper telescoping section of saidcentral support member, and the inner ends of each of said first linksof said central truss pairs being pivotally connected to the lowertelescoping section of said central support member.
 9. The collapsibleshelter of claim 8 , wherein said lower telescoping section has aninternal stop member for supporting said upper telescoping section, suchthat when said shelter is in said extended configuration, said lowertelescoping section supports said upper telescoping section and raisessaid upper end of said upper telescoping section above the upper ends ofsaid leg assembly.
 10. The collapsible shelter of claim 1 , wherein eachof said peripheral central support members comprises upper and lowertelescoping sections, said upper telescoping section having an upper endfor supporting said canopy, the inner ends of each of said first linksof said perimeter truss pairs being pivotally connected to the uppertelescoping section of said peripheral central support member, and theinner ends of each of said second links of said central truss pairsbeing pivotally connected to the lower telescoping section of saidperipheral support member.
 11. The collapsible shelter of claim 10 ,wherein said lower telescoping section has an internal stop member forsupporting said upper telescoping section such that when said shelter isin said extended configuration, said lower telescoping section supportssaid upper telescoping section and raises said upper end of said uppertelescoping section above the upper ends of said leg assembly.
 12. Acollapsible shelter having a collapsed configuration and an extendedconfiguration, comprising: a canopy having at least four sides and fourcorners; a leg assembly having at least four legs supporting saidcanopy, said legs having an upper end and a lower end; a perimeter trusslinkage assembly having a plurality of perimeter truss pairs of linkmembers connected to said leg assembly; at least two central truss pairsof link members, each of said central truss pairs being connected to theinner ends of one of said perimeter truss pairs; at least one verticallyoriented inner central support member supporting said canopy, the innerends of each of said first and second links of said central truss pairsbeing pivotally connected to said inner central support member, saidinner central support member having upper and lower telescopingsections, said upper telescoping section having an upper end forsupporting said canopy, the inner ends of each of said second links ofsaid central truss pairs being pivotally connected to the uppertelescoping section of said central support member, and the inner endsof each of said first links of said central truss pairs being pivotallyconnected to the lower telescoping section of said central supportmember, and said lower telescoping section having an internal stopmember for supporting said upper telescoping section, such that whensaid shelter is in said extended configuration, said lower telescopingsection supports said upper telescoping section and raises said upperend of said upper telescoping section above the upper ends of said legassembly.
 13. The collapsible shelter of claim 12 , further comprisingat least two vertically oriented peripheral central support memberssupporting said canopy, the inner ends of each of said first and secondlinks of said one of said perimeter truss pairs on one of said sides ofthe shelter being pivotally connected to said peripheral central supportmember.
 14. The collapsible shelter of claim 12 , wherein said legassembly comprises telescoping upper and lower sections.
 15. Thecollapsible shelter of claim 12 , wherein said leg assembly comprises aslider member slidably mounted to each of said legs.
 16. The collapsibleshelter of claim 15 , wherein said slider member is mounted to uppersection.
 17. The collapsible shelter of claim 12 , wherein each of saidperimeter truss pairs comprises first and second link members pivotallyconnected together in a scissors configuration, said first and secondlink members having inner and outer ends, said outer end of each saidfirst link member being connected to the upper end of one said leg, andsaid outer end of each second link being slidably connected to said leg.18. The collapsible shelter of claim 12 , wherein each of said centraltruss pairs comprises first and second link members pivotally connectedtogether in a scissors configuration.
 19. The collapsible shelter ofclaim 18 , wherein said first link member of said central truss pairshas an outer end connected to the inner end of said second link memberof said perimeter truss pair, and said second link member of saidcentral truss pairs has an outer end connected to the inner end of saidfirst link member of said perimeter truss pair.
 20. The collapsibleshelter of claim 13 , wherein each of said peripheral central supportmembers comprises upper and lower telescoping sections, said uppertelescoping section having an upper end for supporting said canopy, theinner ends of each of said first links of said perimeter truss pairsbeing pivotally connected to the upper telescoping section of saidperipheral central support member, and the inner ends of each of saidsecond links of said central truss pairs being pivotally connected tothe lower telescoping section of said peripheral support member.
 21. Thecollapsible shelter of claim 20 , wherein said lower telescoping sectionhas an internal stop member for supporting said upper telescopingsection such that when said shelter is in said extended configuration,said lower telescoping section supports said upper telescoping sectionand raises said upper end of said upper telescoping section above theupper ends of said leg assembly.
 22. A collapsible shelter having acollapsed configuration and an extended configuration, comprising: acanopy having at least four sides and four corners; a leg assemblyhaving at least four legs supporting said canopy, said legs having anupper end and a lower end; a perimeter truss linkage assembly having aplurality of perimeter truss pairs of link members connected to said legassembly; and at least one vertically oriented peripheral centralsupport member supporting said canopy, the inner ends of each of saidfirst and second links of said one of said perimeter truss pairs on oneof said sides of the shelter being pivotally connected to saidperipheral central support member, each of said peripheral centralsupport members having upper and lower telescoping sections, said uppertelescoping section having an upper end for supporting said canopy, theinner ends of each of said first links of said perimeter truss pairsbeing pivotally connected to the upper telescoping section of saidperipheral central support member, the inner ends of each of said secondlinks of said central truss pairs being pivotally connected to the lowertelescoping section of said peripheral support member, and said lowertelescoping section having an internal stop member for supporting saidupper telescoping section, such that when said shelter is in saidextended configuration, said lower telescoping section supports saidupper telescoping section and raises said upper end of said uppertelescoping section above the upper ends of said leg assembly.
 23. Thecollapsible shelter of claim 22 , wherein there are at least twovertically oriented peripheral central support members, and furthercomprising at least two central truss pairs of link members, each ofsaid central truss pairs being connected to the inner ends of one ofsaid perimeter truss pairs, and at least one vertically oriented innercentral support member supporting said canopy, the inner ends of each ofsaid first and second links of said central truss pairs being pivotallyconnected to said inner central support member.
 24. The collapsibleshelter of claim 22 , wherein said leg assembly comprises telescopingupper and lower sections.
 25. The collapsible shelter of claim 22 ,wherein said leg assembly comprises a slider member slidably mounted toeach of said legs.
 26. The collapsible shelter of claim 25 , whereinsaid slider member is mounted to upper section.
 27. The collapsibleshelter of claim 22 , wherein each of said perimeter truss pairscomprises first and second link members pivotally connected together ina scissors configuration, said first and second link members havinginner and outer ends, said outer end of each said first link memberbeing connected to the upper end of one said leg, and said outer end ofeach second link being slidably connected to said leg.
 28. Thecollapsible shelter of claim 23 , wherein each of said central trusspairs comprises first and second link members pivotally connectedtogether in a scissors configuration.
 29. The collapsible shelter ofclaim 28 , wherein said first link member of said central truss pairshas an outer end connected to the inner end of said second link memberof said perimeter truss pair, and said second link member of saidcentral truss pairs has an outer end connected to the inner end of saidfirst link member of said perimeter truss pair.
 30. The collapsibleshelter of claim 23 , wherein said inner central support member hasupper and lower telescoping sections, said upper telescoping sectionhaving an upper end for supporting said canopy, the inner ends of eachof said second links of said central truss pairs being pivotallyconnected to the upper telescoping section of said central supportmember, and the inner ends of each of said first links of said centraltruss pairs being pivotally connected to the lower telescoping sectionof said central support member.
 31. The collapsible shelter of claim 30, wherein said lower telescoping section has an internal stop member forsupporting said upper telescoping section, such that when said shelteris in said extended configuration, and said lower telescoping sectionsupports said upper telescoping section and raises said upper end ofsaid upper telescoping section above the upper ends of said legassembly.